Draft Court Treaty Nearing Vote

July 17, 1998

Representatives from more than 100 countries hammered out a draft treaty Friday creating the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal, brushing aside strong U.S. opposition after marathon negotiations. A vote by 160 United Nations delegates that would give final approval to the court was expected by a midnight (5 p.m. CDT) deadline. As envisioned in the draft crafted Friday morning, the international criminal court would bring individuals to justice for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression. The court would be based in The Hague. The carefully crafted compromise emerged early Friday morning after weeks of tough negotiations and strenuous American objections. With U.S. troops deployed in hot spots around the world, Washington fears they could become targets of politically motivated charges.